Students interested in majoring in Geology should consider taking GEO 105 (Earth: Our Environment) or GEO 106 (Earth and the Human Future) during their first year. Either of these courses can be used to fulfill the prerequisite for subsequent courses in the major.
All Geology majors must complete Calculus I (MATH 110 or MATH 114). In addition, majors must complete either Calculus II (MATH 120 or MATH 128) or a department-approved statistics course. Geology is a global science, and so students who have made progress in the major as sophomores are encouraged to study abroad for a semester during their junior year. Though not required for the major, students considering graduate school or professional careers in geology or environmental science are encouraged to take CHEM 120 or CHEM 130; PHYS 110 or PHYS 115; and PHYS 125 or PHYS 230.
Placement Information
Most students who are interested in majoring in geology should take the Calculus Placement Assessment (ALEKS) during the summer prior to their first year. You do not need to take the Calculus Placement Assessment if you any of the following are true:
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You received a score of 4 or 5 on either the AP Calculus AB or BC exam;
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You receive an IB Calculus HL score of 5 or above;
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You have already taken a Calculus 1 course at another accredited college or university. Courses that have not been pre-approved by the Math department will need to be filed by submitting the Transfer Credit & Course Substitution Form.
Sample 4-Year Plan
No Concentration
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Major with a concentration in Environmental Science
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Curricular Notes
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To complete all core requirements by the sophomore year, at minimum, one course will need to satisfy two core requirements.
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With the Geology major Environmental Science Concentration, there is great flexibility with regards to when a course needs to be taken. Many students take their first GEO 105 course during Year 2.
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There are two options for fulfilling the mathematics component of the major:
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An AP Calculus AB score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 1 requirement.
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An AP Calculus BC score of 4 or 5 fulfills the Calculus 2 requirement.
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The required 200-level GEO courses can be taken in any order.
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GEO 220 and GEO 225 are a prerequisite for some GEO 300-level courses
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For the Environmental Science concentration: To complete the Biology Component, students must take one course from BIO 105, BIO 110, or BIO 115, and either BIO 260 or BIO 270.
Geology Transfer Student Advice
Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: No Limit
Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Geology:
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Students transferring in as juniors must have completed a course equivalent to our GEO 105. Completion of additional Geology courses and/or a statistics course is recommended.
General advice for transfer students wanting to major in Geology:
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Early consultation with the department chair is essential.
What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?
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Junior transfers should take one or two 200-level GEO courses during their first semester, as well as a math or statistics course if needed.
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All other transfer students should take GEO 105. If they have already completed a GEO 105 equivalent, they should take another GEO course. COMP 146 is also highly recommended for students who have not yet completed a statistics course.